Cardiff by the Sea

Discover Cardiff by the Sea

Cardiff by the Sea Homes For Sale, Cardiff Real Estate

Cardiff Real Estate

If you love the water, if you love surfing, you will love this little seaside community of Cardiff by the Sea which is just south of Encinitas in California. Although Cardiff is part of Encinitas, it has its own zip code and considers itself a separate community. There are so many things to do in Cardiff, but the most popular by far is surfing.

Hungry? Rise up as early as you want and enjoy the delicious breakfast menu at Pipe’s Cafe. The “little” breakfast will fill you up and is tasty as well as plentiful. After lunch, save enough room for a delightful slice of cake at V G Donuts & Bakery. If you prefer shopping for and cooking your own food, step into the Seaside Market which carries quality produce, does catering, and has many specialty items. It sports a unique solar-collecting awning in front.

Cardiff has a resident population of under 12,000. It started as a farming community, but quickly changed when Frank Cullen decided to start building homes there in 1911. Cardiff homes for sale early this year ranged in price from $499,900 to $3,999,000. Cardiff real estate saw sixty-two single family homes sold in 2010 alone. Condos are popular as well. Homes rise into the hills, taking advantage of all the spectacular views with balconies and windows facing the ocean.

One of the most popular surfing spots is Cardiff Reef, which is along Highway 101 at the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon. Professional and amateur surfers find this a challenge as the surf consistently breaks both right and left.

One of the unique attractions to be found in this highly unusual community is the sculpture entitled “Magic Carpet Ride”, but renamed the “Cardiff Kook” by local residents. There was so much made of this sculpture after it was erected by the Cardiff Botanical Society to honor surfers, that the Wall Street Journal wrote an article about it. Mostly the complaints had to do with the surfer’s form, the small surf and his limp wrists.

Vacationing? Glen Park offers tennis and basketball courts, children’s play area, and picnic tables. A climb into the hills is great exercise. Looking out over the housetops and seeing the immensity of the ocean, you will be sold on this community that combines a resort atmosphere with warmth and friendliness.